Rotatably supported vacuum cleaner



May 7, 1968 1 A. w. KELLEY 3,381,327

ROTATABLY SUPPORTED VACUUM CLEANER Filed July 29, 1966 W/AY/ 38 33 4s 34 31 as 1 36 42 l 36 9 J g J 39 HQ 3 F|G.4

ARCHIE W. KELLEY INVENTOR My 0. M

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,381,327 ROTATABLY SUPPORTED VACUUM CLEANER Archie W. Kelley, 203 E. Vado, San Antonio, Tex. 78214 Filed July 29, 1966, Ser. No. 568,924 3 Claims. (Cl. 15314) The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner which is fixedly mounted and rotatable about a vertical axis and more particularly to such a vacuum cleaner which is weather conditioned for outdoor use.

At the present time many coin operated car washing installations do not include vacuuming apparatus whereby the driver or attendant may clean the interior of a ve hicle. In those few installations providing vacuuming equipment, it has heretofore been the general practice to use a household-type vacuum cleaner; obviously such equipment has limited cleaning capability and an attendant is required to collect the service charges and to safeguard such equipment from theft and vandalism.

The rotatable vacuum cleaner of the subject invention is normally mounted in proximity to a car washing installation, service station or the like; upon insertion of a suitable coin into the accumulator, the vacuum cleaner is operative for a predetermined period of time.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a vacuum cleaner which is fixedly mounted and capable of rotating approximately three hundred forty-five degrees about the mounting means.

Another object is to provide such a vacuum cleaner which is operated by means of a coin controlled switch.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a device which is durable, weather conditioned, and protected against vandalism.

Still another object is to provide such apparatus which is simple in construction, capable of mass production techniques, and easy to maintain in serviceable condition.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the disclosure is made in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying sheet of drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the subject invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevational view of the invention with the hose removed.

FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged, transverse, vertical sectional view taken through the outermost portion of the lower bracket.

FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged, transverse, vertical sectional view taken through the outermost portion of the upper bracket.

FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged vertical sectional view taken through an exhaust tube.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 the preferred embodiment of the subject invention which consists, in general, of an upstanding vacuum cleaner mounted above ground level upon -a standard 11. Vacuum cleaner 10 is of the type manufactured 'by the Black and Decker Company of Towson, Md., and identified as Model No. 165-1; it is to be understood that the invention is not restricted solely to such type vacuum cleaner but includes within the scope of the invention any vacuum cleaner consisting of a tank 12, a dust bag (not shown) positioned therein, with a power unit 13 de- 3,381,327 Patented May 7, 1968 metric sides of the power unit 13, the inlet and exhaust tubes may obviously be connected to any selected portion of the tank and/or power unit with the necessary modifications to such cleaner.

One end of an elongated, flexible hose 16, preferably of neoprene, is secured to inlet tube 14; a nozzle 17 of conventional design detachably connects to the distal end of such hose and is used for vacuuming a vehicle or the like.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, vacuum cleaner 10 is rotatably mounted on bracket 18 consisting of a vertically extending member 19 with spaced, horizontally extending and vertically aligned lower and upper members 20-21 secured inwardly to member 19. The bracket 18 thus formed is preferably constructed of channel or the like with member 19 opening rearwardly and members 20, 21 opening downwardly; a gusset 22 is provided in the exterior angle formed between members 19 and 20, respectively. Member 20 is positioned approximately twenty-four inches above ground level with member 19 of such bracket secured. to standard 11 as by welding or the like.

An accumulator or coin box 23, such as manufactured by H. Greenwald (30., -Inc. of Brooklyn, N.Y., under United States Letters Patent Nos. 2,300,785, 2,334,040, 2,353,305 and D-188,391 is fixedly secured to members 19 and 21; a bore (not shown) is provided in either a side or bottom of such coin box through which wire 24 passes and connects to power unit 13 and a timing device and control switch, respectively, within the said coin box. A second bore, indicated generally by 25, is provided in the side or bottom of such coin box whereby a volt, alternating current supply is applied by means of wires 26 to the other terminals of such timing device and control switch.

An arcuate hose holder 27 includes upturned flanges 28 on front and back; such holder is secured as by welding to the upper corners of the coin box 23 while the back flange 28 is secured to member 19; hose 16 may be passed over and retained on such holder when not in use.

Refer-ring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, there is shown an upstanding pintle 29 the base of which is fixedly secured to the web of member 20 in proximity to the outer end thereof; the said pintle terminates upwardly in shoulder 30 and portion 31 of reduced diameter, which shoulder 30 and reduced portion 31 co-act with a self-aligned flange bearing 32 hereinafter to be more fully described.

Strap 33 extends diagonally across the bottom 34 of tank 12 with flange bearing 32 secured thereto. More specifically, housing 35 of bearing 32 includes a plurality of vertically aligned bolt holesr36 with aligned bores 37- 38 in the strap 33 and bottom 34, respectively, through which bolts 39 pass upwardly with nuts 40 threaded thereon inside tank 12. As heretofore mentioned, flange bearing 32 is preferably self-aligned, such as Browning FBZOO, and includes a spherical socket 41 in housing 35 with the outer race 42 fitting therein in a close fit; the inner race 43 includes an axially extending bore 44 which accommodates the reduced diameter portion 31 of the pintle with shoulder 30 supporting the lower end of race 43.

There is illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings means whereby the upper end of tank 12 is rotatably mounted and detachably secured to the outermost end of member 21. As heretofore mentioned, member 21 is preferably of channel and opens downwardly. The outermost end of such channel is boxed in by means of a vertically and transversely extending end piece 45 with a piece 46 parallel and spaced inwardly therefrom; a horizontally extending base plate 47 is secured laterally to the downwardly depending legs of such channel and at each end to pieces 45, 46 to form a closed, rectangularly shaped chamber. Vertically aligned bores 48-49 are provided in base plate 47 and the web of channel 21 while horizontally aligned bores 50-51 pass through pieces 45, 46. Casing 52 of the power unit 13 includes a bore 53 in the top thereof; a flange 54 is secured to the said casing by means of rivets 55 or the like with neck 56 passing upwardly through bore 53. A vertical bore 57 in neck 56 accommodates a bushing 58 or the like.

Pin 59 has secured thereto at one end a transversely extending strap 60, such pin is passed downwardly through bores 49, 48 until stopped by strap 60 hearing against the web of member 21; such pin further includes a diagonally and horizontally extending bore 61 aligned with bores 50, 51 heretofore mentioned. The said pin 59 terminates downwardly of base plate 47 in a shoulder 62 and portion 63 of reduced diameter which inserts into bore 64 of bushing 58.

A screw type lock 65 such as manufactured by Chicago Lock Co. of Chicago, Ill., and identified as CXlOO consists of a cylinder 66, a face plate 67 of slightly greater outside diameter secured to the keyed end of such cylinder with a longitudinally extending, threaded extension 68 secured to the other end of such cylinder. Nut 69 is fixedly secured to piece 46; extension 68 is passed through bores 50, 61 and 51, respectively, and is threaded into nut 69 by means of the key for such lock until face plate 67 abuts end piece 45. Upon removal of the key, pin 59 is secured in such position. Pin 59 may be withdrawn by inserting the key into lock 65 and reversing such steps; at such time vacuum cleaner 10 may be removed from bracket 18 for cleaning the dust bag or for periodic maintenance.

At the present time there are no commercially available vacuum cleaners which are weather conditioned for outdoor use; more specifically, the exhaust tubes 1-5 normally open upwardly whereby rain or snow may enter into the same or articles inserted into the said tubes, with resultant damage to power unit 13.

There is shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings a disc 70 which covers the exhaust tubes 15 when the cleaner is not in use and is raised by exhaust from the cleaner when the said cleaner is operative. Disc 70 is of greater diameter than the corresponding exhaust tube and preferably includes a circumferential, downturned edge; such disc is secured to strap 71 which is mounted within casing 52 of the power unit. Specifically, strap 71 includes an upstanding sleeve 72 secured in the approximate center thereof with vertical bores 73 in proximity to each end thereof. Vertically aligned bores 74 in casing 52 on diametric sides of each exhaust tube permit passage of bolts 75 with nuts 76 threaded thereon downwardly of the strap. A bore 77 in the center of disc 70 accommodates bolt 78 with nut 79 bearing against the under-surface of such disc; bolt 78 is passed downwardly through sleeve 72 with a lock nut 80 or the like threaded thereon. Disc 70 rests upon the rim of the respective exhaust tube when cleaner 10 is inoperative, preventing the insertion of articles or moisture from entering the power unit; when cleaner 10 is operative, however, in a manner hereinafter to be described, exhaust forces disc 70 upward 4 until stopped by nut 80 which bears against the undersurface of strap 71.

When it is desired to operate cleaner 10, upon insertion of a suitable coin into coin box 23, power unit 13 of cleaner 10 is activated for a predetermined period of time, regulated by the timing device and control switch within the coin box; the power unit 13 is deactivated upon termination of such predetermined time period.

Vacuum cleaner 10 is free to rotate approximately three hundred forty-five degrees about the standard 1 1 and is stopped in either direction only when inlet tube 14 and hose 16 connected thereto abuts member 19.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A rotatable vacuum cleaner comprising a standard, upper and lower horizontally extending and vertically aligned members secured to said standard, a vacuum cleaner rotatably mounted between said upper and lower members, activating means for said vacuum cleaner secured to said standard, said vacuum cleaner including at least one inlet tube and at least one exhaust tube, and closure means covering said exhaust tube when the said vacuum cleaner is inoperative.

2. A rotatable vacuum cleaner comprising a standard, upper and lower horizontally extending and vertically aligned members secured to said standard, a vacuum cleaner rotatably mounted between said upper and lower members, coin operated activating means for said vacuum cleaner on said standard, said vacuum cleaner including at least one inlet tube and at least one exhaust tube, a flexible hose connected to said inlet tube, means in said upper member securing the said vacuum cleaner in position, closure means covering said exhaust tube when the said vacuum cleaner is inoperaitve and vertically displaced from the said exhaust tube by exhaust gases when the vacuum cleaner is operative.

3. A rotatable vacuum cleaner comprising a standard, upper and lower horizontally extending and vertically aligned members secured to said standard, a vacuum cleaner rotatably mounted between said upper and lower members, locking means in said upper member securing the said vacuum cleaner in position, coin operated activating means for said vacuum cleaner secured to said standard, said vacuum cleaner including at least one inlet tube and at least one exhaust tube, a flexible hose connected to said inlet tube, support means secured to said standard to accommodate said hose, and closure means covering said exhaust tube when the said vacuum cleaner is inoperative.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,295,120 2/1919 Cartre 2483 13 XR 1,963,653 6/1934 Curtiss 15-315 2,959,388 11/1960 Fogle.

ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner. 

1. A ROTATABLE VACUUM CLEANER COMPRISING A STANDARD, UPPER AND LOWER HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING AND VERTICALLY ALIGNED MEMBERS SECURED TO SAID STANDARD, A VACUUM CLEANER ROTATABLY MOUNTED BETWEEN SAID UPPER AND LOWER MEMBERS, ACTIVATING MEANS FOR SAID VACUUM CLEANER SECURED TO SAID STANDARD, SAID VACUUM CLEANER INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE INLET TUBE AND AT LEAST ONE EXHAUST TUBE, AND CLOSURE MEANS COVERING SAID EXHAUST TUBE WHEN THE SAID VACUUM CLEANER IS INOPERATIVE. 